Rockies Trade Huson To Brewers

Notebook

April 24, 1997

THE COLORADO Rockies gave Milwaukee much-needed infield help Wednesday, trading Jeff Huson to the Brewers for a player to be determined.

Huson, who broke into the majors with Montreal in 1988, nearly quit after being cut by the Rockies in spring training. He agreed to an assignment at Class AAA Colorado Springs after the Rockies promised they would attempt to trade him.

The Brewers are in need of help after second baseman Fernando Vina broke his left leg and shortstop Jose Valentin went on the disabled list with a broken left finger.

Huson, a career .236 hitter, has spent all or part of eight seasons in the majors, playing for Montreal, Texas and Baltimore. His best season was with the Rangers in 1992, when he hit .261 with 18 stolen bases.

He hit .321 in 17 games with Baltimore last year.

BASEBALL ON THE WEB? IT'S ON DECK

MAJOR LEAGUE Baseball is working on an agreement that would allow live radio broadcasts on the Internet after it angered fans by asking teams to stop broadcasting games on the World Wide Web. Baseball has banned live broadcasts of games on the Internet while it sets rules for broadcasts via the worldwide computer network.

Although radio contracts with teams limit broadcast rights to a geographic area, there aren't any provisions for airing games over the Internet. That has allowed at least eight major-league teams to start airing games on the Internet this season, allowing their out-of-town fans with World Wide Web access to hear local broadcasts.

''As soon as we get all of the owners together and get the contracts modified, all major-league games will be available on the Internet,'' said Michael Bernstine, Major League Baseball's vice president of business development and new ventures. ''Until then, we've asked all teams to stop airing.''

Unlike other sports airing games on the World Wide Web, baseball doesn't expect to charge for its service. It will broadcast national games on Major League Baseball's web site and allow teams to air games through individual sites.

The NBA airs two national games each week at no cost. Listeners, though, must pay a fee for any other games.

Anybody with a standard personal computer, access to the World Wide Web and widely available software to download audio can listen to selected broadcasts of games. It gives fans who don't live within range of a team's radio station a chance to hear their favorite team's games.

BRIEFLY . . .

ANDRES GALARRAGA hit his 251st career home run to join Tony Armas as the most prolific home-run hitters from Venezuela. Galarraga led off the seventh inning with a solo shot against reliever Rick Helling in the Colorado Rockies' 7-3 victory against the Florida Marlins. It was Galarraga's fourth homer of the season. . . . Bob Watson, the New York Yankees' general manager, was scheduled to have been released from Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center after being treated for high blood pressure. Tests on Watson, who was admitted Tuesday, proved negative.